Hey Arnold! may very well be the best series in Nickelodeon’s history. Directed by Craig Bartlett and airing from 1996 to 2004, it followed the adventures of Arnold, a football-headed boy who lives with his grandparents in an inner-city tenement in Hillwood, Washington.The interesting thing about this series is that, in each of its approximately twelve-minute stories, two per episode, they surprised the audience with a new narrative that not only entertained, but also taught, in the most amusing way possible, a lesson that lingered in the viewers’ consciousness. Just like that time when the Stoop Kid was able to find the courage to overcome his inner fears and get out of the stoop.
The other brilliant element of Hey Arnold!, which largely contributed to the legacy of this children’s production, was its cast of characters. Arnold was accompanied by a wide variety of people, children, and adults, each with their own stories, flaws, and virtues. Any child of the 90s could identify with at least one of the many characters, and even find some resemblance between an adult in their lives and one from the series. The characters were very well-built, they had a clear core, they went through difficulties, and learned along the way. There were some more popular than others, but all of them contributed to make Hey Arnold! such a success for young audiences. In this article, we will overview some of the best characters of the series, ranked by likability.
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8 Robert Simmons
Nickelodeon
Arnold’s teacher is one of the few adults to make it onto this list, and it’s not because there weren’t other deserving adults in the show. Mr. Simmons became the fourth grade teacher when Mrs. Slovak left her duties, and the transition was truly amazing: the new teacher was the one that any child would dream of having. Enthusiastic, empathetic, and totally passionate about education, Mr. Simmons and his innovative educational methods brought out the best in each of his students, whom he knew perfectly, a very important aspect considering that many of the children had families that did not give them as much attention as they needed. He not only set the bar high for the representation of the teachers in the shows, but also won over the characters and the entire audience with his special sensitivity and positive affirmations for the whole class.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Harold
Some might argue that Harold, the class bully, should not be on this list. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight the character’s journey from the beginning of the series to its final season, becoming a much more considerate person and a better friend to everyone in the group. Harold was one of those kids who tended to bark more than he bit. His ironic and sometimes mean-spirited comments hid an evident truth: he was a child with major insecurities. Despite this, throughout the series we could see his kind side in an infinite number of moments, such as when he took care of the kitten he found in the dumpster or befriended Big Patty. This kind of actions, which grew over the seasons, turned Harold into a beloved character for the audience.
6 Phoebe
This is another character that is usually present in any school group: the best student. Phoebe was Helga’s best friend and, at the same time, one of the best pupils in the school. With her iconic glasses and her semi-updo hair, she went from being a shadow of one of the main characters to having an increasingly defined personality.The girl cherished strong values, which to some extent allowed her to get along well with Arnold, and she was not afraid to express her opinion or correct whomever when necessary for the sake of knowledge. She was an excellent friend, always ready to help in situations that needed support, and one of the few who knew about Helga’s secret crush. Her love story was no slouch either, as during some episodes throughout the seasons she developed a crush on Gerald.
5 Eugene
Eugene must have been by far the unluckiest character of any children’s TV show. Whenever this little red-haired boy appeared on the screen, it was known that accidents were coming. From the smallest to the most serious of accidents, Eugene has lived through it all and managed to pull through with a bit of humor and his trademark “I’m okay!” catchphrase, which earned him the audience’s sympathy. Nevertheless, despite his lousy luck, Eugene was actually good at a few things: some episodes have shown us that he was an excellent actor and singer, as well as a diver. One of the most interesting episodes of this character was “Eugene Goes Bad,” in which he discovered that his idol was not as he expected and, with no role model to follow, he took on a despicable attitude that was far from his true personality. Fortunately, this new attitude was short-lived, and he shortly returned to the same Eugene loved by all.
4 Phil & Gertie
Phil and Gertie’s relationship goes back to childhood and bears certain similarities to Arnold and Helga’s relationship. They were schoolmates, and the girl constantly teased him. Years passed and, as adults, they met again, married and had Miles, their only son, who later married Stella and had Arnold. Unfortunately, Miles and Stella disappeared when Arnold was very young, and he was left to be raised by his grandparents. Arnold grew up in Sunset Arms with them, both having completely different personalities that complemented each other perfectly: Gertie, with her crazy personality and ideas, stole the show every time she appeared with one of her bizarre outfits or phrases; while Phil brought myriad, interesting stories, urban legends, and practical jokes. They both loved Arnold unconditionally and tried to be role models for him, accompanying him in his growth and teaching him, whenever possible, some valuable lesson in the most entertaining way possible.
3 Gerald
Any TV show main character needs his side-kick. In this case, this role was covered by a boy named Gerald, Arnold’s best friend. Gerald was considered, both by himself and by the group, a cool person. He was gifted in several disciplines, such as sports and singing, and boasted of being very lucky with girls. He was also the one in charge of encouraging some of the biggest pranks of the duo, often convincing Arnold, who tended to be more cautious. While Gerald was a great friend and comrade, in many chapters the audience has witnessed some fights between him and a number of friends, as well as with his own siblings. Fortunately, though, Gerald always prioritized relationships and eventually made things right. Moreover, he was the official storyteller of the group, a role that made him proud and which he took on with great responsibility.
2 Helga
Helga is one of the most popular characters in Hey Arnold! and often the scene-stealer of every scene she was in. She is the kind of character who could easily star in her own spin-off, because everyone wants to know more about her. Two factors contributed greatly to Helga’s aggressive personality: the bullying she was exposed to in kindergarten and the lack of attention she received at home. In fact, her crush on Arnold began in kindergarten, as he was one of the few children who did not tease her. However, outside her seemingly tough and aggressive personality, Helga hid a fragile and emotional interior, while still being a brave, independent and strong girl. She was gifted in several disciplines, including acting, poetry and sports, and at the same time she was one of the most intelligent girls in the show. Very loyal to her friends, she tried to be there to help out in her own way, even with her crush, whom she helped anonymously whenever she could. She was definitely a girl with a tough personality, and that was part of the reasons why the audience loved her. Throughout the seasons she made everyone laugh and thrill in equal parts, with her heartfelt love poems, her Arnold gum sculpture and the picture she carried around with her everywhere she went. She remains to this day one of the most iconic characters in children’s TV shows.
1 Arnold
There are myriad reasons why Arnold is at the top of this list. This ball-headed kid was the star of the show, and he totally rose to the occasion. His personality was quite different from the rest of his friends, although he appreciated each of them with their strengths and weaknesses. He was a dreamer who believed that nothing was impossible, and known for always doing the right thing and trying to see the best in everyone. His empathy towards others compelled him to try and help whenever possible, although sometimes the solutions he came up with were worse than the problem. He tended to be the steadiest both in his group of friends and in his family, with a calm but still interesting personality. That composure and his kindness were his main strengths in enduring Helga’s incessant teasing, unaware that she secretly loved him. Arnold was fond of music, particularly jazz, and used to share his passion for it with Gerald. And if there was one thing that made him both admired and loved, then it was his wonderful room, which any fourth grader (and older ones too) would want to have.
